Strategies to help students understand Word Problems in Mathematics

 1. Use a process chart

One strategy is to use a process chart, which can guide students as they tackle a new problem. It helps to focus on how each step of the process supports students as they work to access the problem. An example problem-solving process is provided below:

2. Highlight key words and numbers

Read the problem, then reread it and highlight key words and numbers. Reading the problem a second time with annotations helps students sort out the core information from the background noise.

3.Visualise 

Draw a picture of the situation that the problem presents. It may be helpful to first visualize a story or imagine a movie scene. Visualizing a story can be a powerful strategy that helps students create a picture or diagram of the problem.

4.Decide the goal

Determine the goal of the problem.

5.Write an equation/ equations  to represent the picture

Establish a strategy or write an equation to represent the picture. Estimate an answer, if possible. Estimating or approximating an answer helps students decide if they are on the right track.

6.Estimate an answer.

Solve the problem and check the reasonableness of your answer.

7.Encourage them to embrace mistakes and errors

Reminding students that it is rare to complete a problem correctly on the first attempt encourage them to embrace mistakes and errors (see UDL Checkpoint 3.2: Highlight patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships(opens in a new window)).

8.Explain your solution method.

( input from Judy Zorfass, Tracy Gray, Ph.D., PowerUp WHAT WORKS

in  https://www.ldonline.org/ld-topics/teaching-instruction/understanding-word-problems-mathematics)